Ambulatory Blood Pressure Recording

(Blood Pressure Reading)

Your consultant has suggested you have an ambulatory blood pressure recording. This diagnostic test can be suggested for a number of reasons including:

Your consultant may want to find out if your high blood pressure readings, taken in the clinical environment of the hospital, are much higher than they are when you are at home or at work (this is sometime referred to as the “white coat effect”).

Your consultant may also want to see how well your medicines are working, to make sure they are controlling your blood pressure through the day.

Your consultant may also want to see if your blood pressure stays high at night. If this is the case, they may need to change or adjust your medicines.

Ambulatory blood pressure recording is a non-invasive method of obtaining blood pressure readings over a 24-hour period giving a true reflection of their blood pressure. Blood pressure measured over a 24-hour period is superior to clinic blood pressure in predicting future cardiovascular events and target organ damage. The diagnostic tool uses a small digital blood pressure machine that is attached to a belt around your body, which is connected to a cuff around your upper arm. It small enough that you can go about your normal daily life and even sleep with it on.

Arranging your Treatment

Before going ahead with this treatment, you will need to have an initial consultation with a specialist Consultant to go through your medical history and diagnosis. At this appointment, your consultant will confirm the exact treatment you require.

If you would like to have an initial consultation, you can call us and we can help you find the consultant best for you.

Alternatively, if you have already been diagnosed as needing a particular operation or treatment, our Reservations team can give you a guide price for this to be carried out at KIMS Hospital and book an appointment for you to meet a consultant.

Paying for your Treatment

You can be treated at KIMS by using your private medical insurance or by paying for yourself.

If you have private medical insurance, you will need to contact your insurer to ensure you are covered for the initial consultation prior to making an appointment and obtain an authorisation number. The insurance company will then need to be advised if you require further treatment. The insurance company usually settles bills on your behalf.

If you are paying for your own treatment, you will need to pay for an initial consultation. This will be confirmed at the time of booking but is typically £150-£250. You will also need to pay for any associated diagnostic tests your consultant recommends (for example x-rays and blood tests).

Following this consultation, if you don’t need any further treatment or if you decide paying for yourself isn’t the right option, there is no commitment to proceed further.

If you require the operation or procedure to be carried out, you will receive a quote for your treatment. This quote is also subject to pre-assessment checks prior to your admission to hospital.

Payment is required 7 days prior to admission.

The ambulatory blood pressure recording device takes just 10 minutes to fit and works in much the same way as a normal blood pressure check: the digital machine takes your blood pressure by inflating a cuff around your upper arm and then slowly releasing the pressure. The device is small enough to be worn on your belt while the cuff stays on your upper arm for the full 24 hours.

During the day the device will take regular reading, usually every 15-30 minutes during the daytime and 30-60 minutes at night. You will need to keep the monitor on through the night but the device you wore on your belt during the day can be put under your pillow or beside you on the bed while you sleep.

Because the test is being carried out to find out what your normal daily blood pressure is, it is important to carry on with your normal routine and do all the things you would normally do. The only things you should avoid doing for the day are swimming and having a bath or shower. At the end of the 24 hours you can remove the machine and cuff and give it back to the hospital or surgery. The machine will have stored all your readings and these will then be analysed.

To find out more

If you would like to come to KIMS contact our sales advisors on 01622 237727 or email enquiries@kims.org.uk.